Atlas, PolarAir Cargo crew members vote to Join Teamsters Union by a more than 2 to 1 margin.

 

What was the source of their angst with ALPA?

 

Same as US Airways I think. Seniority list integration heartburn.

 

What are some thoughts about going to an "FPA" type union at FedEx from anyone?

 

You know, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, UPS, FedEx, ABX, and DHLAirways had some meetings about starting up a pure cargo union. I was at the talks. But it never got off the ground. Once in awhile, I think about what might have been. Usually after too many Boat Drinks.

 

Great in concept but, I am afraid it would have come appart like ALPA.
Freight Dog union is really run by and for pilots from ( insert name of one of larger memberships) they don't give a s()t about us at ( insert name of smaller membership, or outfit with smaller airplanes). You would not believe the office that they are building in ( insert name of base of one of the carriers ) the rest of us are being screwed. Or the only reason that guy got elected is because the pilots at (insert carrier name) all pull together and the Pilots at ( insert carrier name) had to merge and hate each other.
In the end many would claim that they had something inserted.

 

True that 757... true that.

 

You might want to ask a FedEx pilot about why the left FPA and went back to ALPA.

The AWA pilots are ready to come back today. All they need are for a few of the USAirways pilots to see the light again. Watch the USAirways cry babies lose their attempt ot over turn the arbitration in court then come back to ALPA in three or four years when management starts running them ragged.

 

Alpa loses one but gains another one...


From our (big brown) union news letter...

AirTran Pilots To Merge with ALPA (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dec. 20)

ALPA has endorsed a merger with AirTran Airways’ independent pilots union and plans to enter into merger negotiations in January. The National Pilots Association, which represents more than 1,600 AirTran pilots, last week met with ALPA and with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
ALPA then passed a resolution endorsing a merger with the NPA, noting that NPA had passed a similar resolution.
Teamsters airline division director David Bourne said after his meeting with NPA that he does not plan to pursue a more official relationship. Underlying moves for a switch in representation are unresolved contract talks between AirTran and its pilots.
Pilots unions to merge

 

ALPA isn't perfect, but it is the best thing available unless you have a benevolent management system where an independent union or no union at all can work. Let's hope you don't have to go on strike or, God forbid, have an accident. Doesn't the IPA rent services from ALPA? If ALPA didn't exist, you'd have to generate those resources yourself.

The biggest allie those Brazilian midair pilots, both furloughed APA pilots, have is ALPA because all APA is doing is giving an occasional cheer with pom-poms then going back to business as usual with their second year of contract negotiations.

The biggest problem with large unions is the members who think it exists to only serve them. This is like someone who joins a basketball team on the condition the team makes them the star and always gives them the ball. That isn't how it works. It's a team. All members have to do what is best for the team. Support the team and the team supports you. You may not ever be the star, but a good team is a winning team. A good team is a team where you watch everyone's back and they watch yours.

It's hard to form a team when all the members are undercutting each other to be the star and catch all the limelight.

Off the soapbox. Good luck.